Chess puzzles by theme
Real chess puzzles grouped by idea: mate in 1, 2, 3 and 4, back-rank and smothered mates, forks, pins, skewers, discovered attacks, sacrifices, zugzwang and more. Easiest first, with answers.
- Mate in 1 (1,724 puzzles) Each position has one move that checkmates at once. Find it.
- Mate in 2 (2,776 puzzles) You checkmate in two moves, whatever your opponent does in between.
- Mate in 3 (1,519 puzzles) Three moves to checkmate. The first one usually looks like it gives something away.
- Mate in 4 (643 puzzles) Longer forced mates: every move is a check or a threat your opponent must answer.
- Back-rank mate (432 puzzles) A rook or queen mates the king on its back row, where its own pawns stop it escaping.
- Smothered mate (201 puzzles) A knight checkmates a king that is boxed in by its own pieces, so it has no square to go to.
- Forks (1,112 puzzles) A fork is one piece attacking two or more enemy pieces at the same time. Your opponent can only save one.
- Pins (763 puzzles) A pin attacks a piece that cannot move without exposing a more valuable piece behind it.
- Skewers (422 puzzles) A skewer attacks a valuable piece that has to move, which leaves the piece behind it to be taken.
- Discovered attacks (965 puzzles) One piece moves out of the way and uncovers an attack by the piece behind it, so two threats appear at once.
- Double check (438 puzzles) Two pieces give check at once. Nothing can block or take both, so the king has to move.
- Hanging pieces (448 puzzles) A piece is hanging when it can be taken for free because nothing defends it. Spot it, and take it.
- Trapped pieces (240 puzzles) A piece with no safe square left. Attack it and it is lost, wherever it tries to go.
- Sacrifices (2,557 puzzles) You give up material on purpose, because what you get back (mate, or more material) is worth more.
- Deflection (801 puzzles) Force a defending piece away from the square or piece it guards, then use what it left unguarded.
- Attraction (1,204 puzzles) Lure an enemy piece, often the king, onto a square where it can be forked, pinned or mated.
- Clearance (375 puzzles) Move a piece off a square or line, often with a threat, so another of your pieces can use it.
- In-between moves (320 puzzles) Instead of the expected reply, such as taking back, play a stronger forcing move first.
- X-ray attacks (288 puzzles) A piece attacks or defends through another piece standing in the line, which only matters once that piece moves or is taken.
- Zugzwang (310 puzzles) Your opponent has to move, and every move they have makes their position worse.
- Promotion (786 puzzles) Get a pawn to the last row and make a new queen, often after clearing the way with a sacrifice or a check.
- En passant (185 puzzles) Positions where the winning move, or the key defence, is taking a pawn en passant.
How the pieces move · Openings with their plans · Endgames you must know
Puzzles from the Lichess puzzle database (CC0). Every line was replayed move by move by the course's rules engine. Part of Chess Path, a free chess course. Free coach for your Chess.com and Lichess games.